Toronto Maple Leafs’ star forward Auston Matthews is still sidelined with an undisclosed upper-body injury, according to Leafs’ coach Craig Berube. Matthews, who last played on Nov. 3, has been out of action for over a week now. Despite not getting worse, he is not expected to return for at least another week, missing the upcoming game against Vegas and possibly returning for Sunday’s matchup with Utah.
Berube mentioned that Matthews has been making slow progress in his recovery and has not been on the ice recently. The team is hopeful that he will be back soon but is focused on pushing forward without him in the lineup. In Matthews’ absence, John Tavares has stepped up as the top-line center, delivering solid performances alongside Mitch Marner and Bobby McMann.
The Leafs have been performing well without Matthews, boasting a league-leading record over the past two weeks. However, they suffered another blow with center Calle Jarnkrok undergoing surgery for a groin and sports hernia issue. Jarnkrok, who has been dealing with the problem since training camp, is expected to be out for an extended period, leaving a gap in the team’s forward lineup.
Despite these challenges, Toronto remains optimistic about their performance and is hopeful for Matthews’ return in the near future. The team is focused on maintaining their winning streak and overcoming obstacles as they continue to strive for success in the league.